GMP welcomes Baroness Casey recommendations following rapid review into CSE
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has welcomed Baroness Louise Casey's report and recommendations on child sexual exploitation (CSE), along with the Prime Minister's announcement of a national inquiry into grooming gangs. GMP acknowledges past failures, highlights improvements in their approach, and commits to further action based on the report's findings. The force emphasizes transparency, victim-centered support, and evidence-led investigations, citing recent successful prosecutions and ongoing efforts to address CSE across all communities.
Greater Manchester Police Pledges Transparency as National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs Announced
Greater Manchester Police will approach the newly announced national inquiry into grooming gangs with “openness and transparency,” Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker declared today, welcoming the statutory powers that will ensure “complete accountability.”
The force’s lead for Vulnerability and Public Protection issued a comprehensive response to Baroness Louise Casey’s report, acknowledging past failures while highlighting significant improvements in tackling child sexual exploitation. “I want to reiterate my apology to all those who have been let down by GMP in the past,” Parker stated, noting the report confirms issues uncovered by the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Independent Assurance Reviews.
The senior officer emphasized tangible progress, citing GMP’s dedicated Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team comprising nearly 100 officers and staff investigating serious and complex multi-victim cases. This specialized unit, supported by 10 district complex safeguarding teams, represents what Parker called the force’s “unique approach” to driving national standards.
Recent convictions demonstrate this commitment to justice, with seven men convicted of 50 offences in the past week as part of Operation Lytton - the second major investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale. This brings the total to 32 perpetrators brought to justice, achievements Parker attributed to “the bravery of the two survivors in this case.”
The force acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly regarding survivors who were criminalized rather than protected. Parker welcomed Baroness Casey’s recommendation to review and potentially quash such convictions, stating: “The fact that for some survivors, they may also have been criminalised only adds to the trauma… children should have been protected, not left with further stigma, affecting the rest of their lives.”
GMP’s data reveals a higher proportion of Asian offenders compared to other areas nationally, though Parker emphasized the force remains “led by the evidence, no matter how and where the offences occur,” noting exploitation affects “all communities and age groups” regardless of ethnicity or backgrounds.
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